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Dr. Paul J. Hirsch of Bridgewater, a longtime member of the Raritan Valley Community College Board of Trustees and a former Board chair, has been honored by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges with a Trustee Spotlight Award.

A member of the RVCC Board of Trustees since 1986 who served as chair of the Board from 2013-2015 and from 2008-2011, Dr. Hirsch is being honored for his service and strong commitment to Raritan Valley Community College.

“The New Jersey Council of County Colleges was honored to present the Trustee Spotlight Award to Dr. Paul J. Hirsch in recognition of his unwavering commitment and strong leadership as a trustee of Raritan Valley Community College,” said Aaron Fichtner, president of the NJCCC. “Dr. Hirsch exemplifies the values of knowledge, community, and opportunity that are the hallmark of New Jersey's community colleges."

“It is truly fitting that Dr. Paul Hirsch, the benefactor of The Morris and Dorothy Hirsch Research Library of The Holocaust, Genocide, and Racism at RVCC, is being recognized for his dedication to the College. Paul has been, and continues to be, a compassionate advocate and an eloquent champion for our College, and, much more importantly, for our students. We are very honored that he is being spotlighted by the NJCCC,” said RVCC President Dr. Michael J. McDonough.

During Dr. Hirsch’s first tenure as chair, the College assumed administration of all post-secondary programs previously offered by the Somerset County Technology Institute; became the first community college in the country to sign an environmental stewardship agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and obtained a $4.6 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to work in partnership with local businesses to train workers in new career paths.

Under Dr. Hirsch’s more recent leadership of the Board, the College made a number of significant advancements, including opening the Ray Bateman Center for Student Life and Leadership, expanding the Christine Todd Whitman Science Center, and building a state-of-the-art Workforce Training Center.

Dr. Hirsch is a retired orthopaedic surgeon and a former clinical professor of orthopaedics at Seton Hall School of Graduate Medical Education. He is vice chairman of the Board of Directors of MDAdvantage Insurance Company and chairman of MDAdvantage Finance Company. Additionally, he is chairman of the Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Foundation and serves on the Editorial Board of MDAdvisor Journal.  

Dr. Hirsch previously served as treasurer, and then president, of the Medical Society of NJ; as president of the Academy of Medicine of NJ; as president of the NJ Orthopaedic Society; and as president of the NJ Association of Medical Specialty Societies. He was treasurer, and subsequently chairman of the Board of Trustees, of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (an international medical journal based in Boston), as well as editor-in-chief of New Jersey Medicine. He previously served on the Boards of Trustees of the American Orthopaedic Association and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (both headquartered in Chicago).

About NJCCC

The New Jersey Council of County Colleges provides statewide leadership for the advancement of New Jersey Community Colleges, performs coordinating responsibilities as required by law, and coordinates statewide efforts to build a skilled workforce and improve student success. We encourage you to visit our website at www.njccc.org.

About RVCC

Ranked by WalletHub.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to  a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.



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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2022

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #108